Everything you need to know about every player in the 2018 Ryder Cup

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It’s been a long wait since Hazeltine National, but the Ryder Cup is finally back, and the Europeans are seeking revenge on home soil as the underdog next week in Paris. With plenty of young, talented players and a good mix of veterans, Team Europe sounds like a great bet, especially considering the fact that the American squad has not won outside of the states since 1993.

But the United State team is as stacked as ever, featuring three of the top four players in the world and, oh yeah, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who are each playing some very good golf entering the biennial event. This year’s competition at Le Golf National is shaping up to be a memorable one, but before it officially gets underway, here’s everything you need to know about every player competing in the 2018 Ryder Cup.

As a Ryder Cup rookie in 2016, Koepka was his unflappable self, winning three of his four matches including a dominant 5-and-4 singles victory over Danny Willett that gave the U.S. a 12.5-9.5 lead. His only loss came with Dustin Johnson, one the duo hopes to avenge in France.

Streeter Lecka

Dustin Johnson

Age: 34

World Ranking: 3

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3 (2010, 2012, 2016)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 6-5-0 (3-0-0)

After being a part of two losing teams, Johnson got his first taste of victory at Hazeltine, going 2-2-0 and winning his singles match over Chris Wood.

Keyur Khamar

Justin Thomas

Age: 25

World Ranking: 4

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

It’s hard to believe this will be the first Ryder Cup appearance for Thomas, who has only won eight PGA Tour events, including the 2017 PGA Championship, since the last Ryder Cup at Hazeltine. But after narrowly missing out on a captain’s pick that year, Thomas left no doubt he’d be on the team in France, and his electric performance in his first professional team event at the 2017 Presidents Cup (3-1-1 record) signaled he is very ready for this stage.

Streeter Lecka

Patrick Reed

Age: 28

World Ranking: 14

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2 (2014, 2016)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 6-1-2 (2-0)

Captain America’s record in these events speaks for itself, and you can bet he’ll be in even rarer form in enemy territory, something we first got a glimpse of in 2014 at Gleneagles. Expect a whole lot of crowd shushing from P-Reed in Paris.

David Cannon

Bubba Watson

Age: 39

World Ranking: 13

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3 (2010, 2012, 2014)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 3-8-0 (0-3-0)

After being left off the team in 2016 and serving as a vice captain, Bubba earned his way onto his fourth career U.S. squad with a bounce back three-win season on tour in 2018. Now he’s given himself a chance to not only be on his first winning team, but to improve his abysmal overall record and singles record in the event.

Can Spieth salvage what’s felt like a lost season for the three-time major winner in France? It’s the only place he’ll be able to do so after shockingly missing out on the Tour Championship. Perhaps teaming up with Reed, or his buddy Thomas, could create a much-needed spark for the young star.

Scott Halleran

Rickie Fowler

Age: 29

World Ranking: 9

Ryder Cup Appearances: 3 (2010, 2014, 2016)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 2-4-5 (1-1-1)

While Fowler still appears young, he’s actually quite old in Ryder Cup years, having made his first appearance all the way back in 2010. It was a memorable one, as Fowler earned a half point in his singles match with some late heroics. He’s been strong in both appearances since, earning at least a half a point in five of his eight total matches in 2014 and 2016.

Andrew Redington

Webb Simpson

Age: 33

World Ranking: 17

Ryder Cup Appearances: 2 (2012, 2014)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 2-3-1 (0-1-1)

Much like Watson, Simpson earned his way back on the squad with a renaissance season in 2018 that included a dominant win at the Players Championship. Also like Watson, Simpson has an opportunity to improve his so-so Ryder Cup record, and more importantly he’d love to get rid of the sour taste that was left in his mouth after Gleneagles in 2014.

JIM WATSON

Tiger Woods

Age: 42

World Ranking: 21

Ryder Cup Appearances: 7 (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2012)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 13-17-3 (4-1-2)

Did any of us ever think the day would come when we’d see Woods hand in the walkie talkie and headset and be playing on the team once again? Amazingly, that day has come, and it’ll be interesting to see the new Tiger in an event his career record would suggest he’s struggled in. Although, his singles record is as good as anybody’s, and where to slot him in Sunday singles will be a fascinating decision for Jim Furyk.

When he competes in France, Mickelson will be making his 12th Ryder Cup appearance, more than any player in history. No one on this team wants to win on foreign soil more than Lefty, something that, despite being on every squad since 1995, he’s never been a part of.

Rich Schultz

Bryson DeChambeau

Age: 25

World Ranking: 8

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

With the way he’s playing, this should be the first of many Ryder Cups for DeChambeau, who does have some experience playing for his country, having competed on the 2015 U.S. Walker Cup team.

Gregory Shamus

Tony Finau

Age: 29

World Ranking: 16

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

Jim Furyk’s final captain’s pick was well-earned by Finau, who has finished inside the top 10 in six of his last nine starts on the PGA Tour. If anyone’s concerned about rookie jitters with this guy, they shouldn’t be. Look no further than his first Masters appearance in April, when he nearly shattered his ankle on Wednesday only to briefly hold the solo lead and eventually finish T-10.

Before his breakout season in 2018 that included an Open Championship victory, one of Molinari’s most memorable moments on a golf course came at the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah, where Tiger Woods conceded the final hole to the Italian and gave the Europeans the outright victory. That gave Molinari a half a point, the only one he earned that week. Expect him to top that total in France this year.

Streeter Lecka

Justin Rose

Age: 38

Country: England

World Ranking: 1

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4 (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 9-3-2 (2-1-1)

With his runner-up finish at the BMW Championship, Rose became the No. 1 player in the world for the first time in his career, something that should absolutely boost his confidence heading into the team event. Not that he needed it, because he’s been a European stalwart since 2008, and made arguably the biggest putt of Europe’s 2012 victory at Medinah, when he drained a bomb at the par-3 17th that eventually helped him defeat Phil Mickelson in singles.

Andrew Redington

Tyrrell Hatton

Age: 26

Country: England

World Ranking: 26

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

The Ryder Cup is an event that runs players through the gamut of emotions, so the animated Englishman will be must-see TV during the coverage at Le Golf National. Luckily for him, his rookie Ryder Cup will be in front of the home fans, saving him from what would likely be some vicious heckling from American crowds who got a glimpse of the Hatton roller coaster during the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Andrew Redington

Tommy Fleetwood

Age: 27

Country: England

World Ranking: 12

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

Every time you hear about how stacked the American squad is, guys like Fleetwood remind you that this European team isn’t going to just roll over. While he hasn’t converted it into a PGA Tour win, few players have been hotter over the last two seasons than Fleetwood, and his impressive charge down the stretch on Sunday at Shinnecock alone should be enough to prove that he’ll have no problem with Ryder Cup pressure.

Gregory Shamus

Jon Rahm

Age: 23

Country: Spain

World Ranking: 7

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

For those keeping score, that’s a whopping zero combined Ryder Cup appearances from three of Europe’s top five players this year. We’re going to find out just how big of a factor that is, especially for a guy like Rahm, who has struggled a bit this summer after coming out firing with wins at the CareerBuilder Challenge in January and the Spanish Open in April.

If experience is what you’re looking for, McIlroy has plenty, having made every European team since 2010, three of those being winning squads. Up until his tango with Patrick Reed, he was a force in singles, going 2-0-1 in his three matches. Will he and Reed meet again on Sunday in France? We can only hope.

Gregory Shamus

Alex Noren

Age: 36

Country: Sweden

World Ranking: 15

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

Much like Fleetwood, Noren has a body of work over the last few seasons on both the European Tour and PGA Tour that would lead you to believe he’ll be successful in his first Ryder Cup appearance.

Jan Kruger

Thorbjorn Olesen

Age: 28

Country: Denmark

World Ranking: 44

Ryder Cup Appearances: 0

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): N/A

It’s fitting that Olesen, from Denmark, grabbed the last automatic qualifying spot to make his first Ryder Cup team with fellow countryman Thomas Bjorn as his captain. Olesen has put together a fine career to date, but had yet to have a strong enough season like the one he had in 2018 that helped him earn his way to France. Watch for the Thunder Bear to surprise some folks who may not have seen much of him on television over the years.

Ross Kinnaird

Ian Poulter

Age: 42

Country: England

World Ranking: 34

Ryder Cup Appearances: 5 (2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 12-4-2 (4-0-1)

All the experience Europe needed came with Bjorn’s captain’s picks, starting with Poulter, whose comeback season warranted his selection to the 2018 team after some light years on tour. His Ryder Cup record is one of the best in Europe’s history, and his energy for the event is unmatched as the U.S. found out the hard way in 2012 at Medinah.

Mike Ehrmann

Henrik Stenson

Age: 42

Country: Sweden

World Ranking: 24

Ryder Cup Appearances: 4 (2006, 2008, 2014, 2016)

Ryder Cup Overall Record (singles record): 5-4-2 (2-2)

While his record isn’t quite Poulter’s, there’s no question Stenson knows what it takes to get it done at the Ryder Cup. And if he gets paired with his man Rose, who his seen a lot of already this season, they will be as tough to beat as any pairing in the event.

Because of Europe’s rule that one must be a member of the European Tour to be eligible for the team, Casey has not competed in the event in a decade. It’s been Europe’s loss (although they’ve only lost once since 2008), because Casey was one of the top players for Europe in all three of his appearances. Now, at 41, Casey will look to rekindle that magic as a team veteran.

The most controversial of either captain’s picks was Garcia based off his play not only of late, but dating all the way back to his Masters victory in 2017. The 38-year-old Spaniard has been a mess ever since, but if there’s any event he can get up for, it’s this one. Garcia’s been on all but one team since 1999, when he made his first appearance as the youngest player in Ryder Cup history, a record that still stands to this day. If he does have one weakness in the event though, it’s his singles record, and he’s not going to be able to hide on Sunday if his struggles continue and Europe is in desperate need of points.